Line on your leg could be the first sign of heart disease

With February marking National Heart Month, care experts are urging families to look out for subtle signs around the home that could point to declining heart health in people over 70, including something as simple as the marks left behind by socks...̲S̲e̲e̲ ̲F̲u̲l̲l̲;̲ ̲O̲r̲i̲g̲i̲n̲a̲l̲ ̲P̲o̲s̲t̲.̲

Heart disease remains one of the UK’s biggest health challenges, with more than 7 million people living with cardiovascular disease, and around 100,000 hospital admissions for heart attacks each year, which is the equivalent of one every five minutes.

Care professionals say early clues often show up in everyday routines, long before a medical emergency and are easily brushed off as “just getting older,” particularly during the colder, wetter months when people tend to stay indoors.Sabah Shah, Clinical Lead at The Good Care Group, says everyday observations in the home are critical for early awareness, as reduced movement and disrupted routines can quietly place extra strain on the heart.

“In the colder and wetter months, people naturally sit more, move less and rest earlier in the evening,” she said. “That makes it harder to spot when tiredness, breathlessness or swelling isn’t just seasonal but a signal the heart may be under strain.”

1. The ‘Sofa Warning Sign’..̲S̲e̲e̲ ̲F̲u̲l̲l̲;̲ ̲O̲r̲i̲g̲i̲n̲a̲l̲ ̲P̲o̲s̲t̲.̲